Track 28: "Lowdown" by My Morning Jacket

So love, dawg, cant ya see?
That you never gotta fight with me.

God bless the double-live album.

My favorite albums by my favorite bands ALWAYS end up being the double-live album (such as "Live Art" from track 27). There's no better way to get a good cross-section of a band's hits, and there's just something about live music that kicks you right in the pants the way a studio record never can.

I owe my former Charleston roommate, Jason Eargle, for my introduction to My Morning Jacket's "It Still Moves." Songs like "Golden" and "One Big Holiday" were some of my first early favorites by the band. But my neighbors and good friends here in Atlanta, Sean and Jennifer Higgins, are red-blooded, foaming-at-the-mouth fans of this band. And through them I first heard MMJ's double-live masterpiece "Okonokos."

And as great as just about every track on the album is, "Lowdown," is far and away my favorite cut on the album. It's just a great, honest, kick-ass rock and roll-song. From the very beginning , it's clear this is one of those drive-too-fast-with-the-windows-down type of tunes. Jim James' lead intro is just so well played, and I love how it just trails off right up until he begins singing. The groove and melody give the song a really cool '50s sort of old vibe.

Every time this song comes on in the car I inevitably beat on the steering wheel (I've sort of always wanted a drum kit) and I've gotten more than a few strange looks at stop lights because of this habit. But if those suckers only knew the undeniable amounts of rocking taking place all up in my ride, they would have thought twice about the smirk.

This song is 4:13 of all that is right with rock and roll.

Track 27: "If it wasn't for the Money" by Tea Leaf Green

All I need's a drop of water,
I'm a seed born on the wind,
I was once a flower,
and I'll be a flower again.

Track 28 has a lot in common with the last two songs. It's another live cut and another band where the moment I heard them I became a fan.

I first came across Tea Leaf Green in my freelance writing days back in 2006. I'd heard of the band before, but never heard any of their music. They were touring in support of "Rock and Roll Band" a live concert DVD/CD, which is just a really solid and downright awesome release.

Here's a link to that story; http://tinyurl.com/yanv9dm

Not too many of the 'jam bands' I covered back in the day have really stuck with me, but Tea Leaf Green, and this album in particular, managed to make the cut.

There's no doubt these guys can play--the album has a great live energy to it and some intense playing, but really none of the mindless noodling that so many jam bands fall victim to. At the heart of the tunes on "Rock and Roll Band" is a knack for solid songs. TLG has a bit of a pop feel to them, their songs have a really undeniable sing-along quality to them and they can just play the hell out of them.

Literally the first 6 songs on "Rock and Roll Band" I could listen to everyday, and did a fine job of wearing them out when I first got the CD. But "If it wasn't for the Money" has always been a favorite.

Sort of like "Lowdown" by My Morning Jacket in the last post--this song is another example of what a great rock and roll song should be.

Track 26: "New South Africa" by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

One of my favorite things about music is that moment you're first introduced to a new band that ends up blowing your mind. And that's exactly what happened when I first heard Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.

I was in college at the time and borrowed the album "Live Art" from a co-worker at the Pot Belly Deli in Clemson, SC. I was aware of Bela Fleck at the time, and by 'aware' I mean to say that I knew Bela Fleck played the banjo and that's about it.

I came home to an empty apartment (which was a sheer miracle in those days considering I had 3 other roommates) on a sunny Spring day, cracked open a cold beer, put disc 1 of "Live Art" in the stereo, and had a seat outside on our deck to enjoy the sunshine. And shortly thereafter my mind was blown. The grooves and melodies were unlike any other music I was into at the time. And who knew a banjo could sound like THAT?

"New South Africa" is the first track of disc 1 of "Live Art" (the entire album is absolutely stellar) and I must have listened to the song about 5 times in a row that day before I let the rest of the album play. It was unlike anything I'd ever heard of.

I became a fan immediately and to this day I regard Bela Fleck as probably the most talented musician alive, but the other members of the Flecktones are certainly no slouches. Bassist Victor Wooten has been named "best bassist" by countless publications countless times. His brother Roy "Future Man" Wooten plays the Synthe-Axe Drumitar--a hideous looking contraption of sampled electronic drumbeats. And one-man horn section Jeff Coffin (who also plays with the Dave Matthews Band now) is just amazing.

I've seen the band several times and always leave the venue completely amazed at what I just witnessed--four virtuosic musicians who can just play amazingly together. They literally touch on about every form of music on the planet, yet always sounds like the Flecktones. Definitely one of my favorite groups of all time.

And it always makes me remember that sunny day on my back porch in Clemson. And to this day, every time the song peaks around the 4-minute mark, I can't help but feel a little burst of adrenaline.

I also know that whoever the co-worker was never got back their copy of "Live Art." And for that I am only remotely sorry.

Track 25: Fleet Foxes double shot.

Fleet Foxes may very well be the only band I can think of that Rolling Stone has introduced me to. The magazine covers plenty of garbage between its love of the "Twilight" cast and hack musicians, but it's still, more or less, a great magazine.

I remember reading a review of Fleet Foxes debut album, where RS touched on the band's music sounding like a hybrid of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and the Beach Boys and a whole 60s throwback vibe, and I was somewhat intrigued. I guess what was once old will always become new again.

And it didn't take long after hearing their album for me to really love this band. I devoured the album, listened to it incessantly, and then discovered their "Sun Giant" EP which is also a great record.

Knowing what a fan he is of classic rock, I played the Fleet Foxes record for my good friend, Sean Higgins, one day and he was in hog heaven. And between the two of us I am sure we got several friends hooked on this band. We were fortunate enough to see the band play at the Georgia Theatre in Athens around September of '08 and I cannot say enough good things about the show.

The groups harmonies really do echo that 60's vibe of CSNY and the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" album, and I was amazed at how well they were able to pull them off in a live setting. We got to meet the band after the show and they couldn't have been more genuine or humble--almost as if they have no idea how amazing the performance they just put on was.

The Fleet Foxes album was literally the soundtrack of my 2008 summer, and these two songs in particular just really jumped out at me.

White Winter Hymnal
And Michael you would fall,
and turn the white snow red as strawberries in the summertime.

This track is just superbly done. Amazing harmonies and without a doubt their most "Pet Sounds" sounding tune.



Ragged Wood
Darling, I can barely remember you beside me
You should come back home, back on your own now

Undoubtedly my favorite Fleet Foxes song, I could listen to this one on repeat and just drive on a sunny day forever. I love the changes, especially the guitar line in the very last section of the song.



Haven't heard much about the band in a while. I can only hope they're working on a new album!

Track 24: "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" by Ray Charles

Don't let the sun catch you crying,
crying at my front door.
You done daddy dirty,
He sure don't want you no more.

Sorry for the lack of updates, oh loyal 12 blog followers.

Track 24 is another great one for the sad bastard genre of my ultimate playlist. Inspired by a dreary, cold, rainy day here in Atlanta (I seriously cannot believe how much it rains in this town, I kinda miss the good ole drought days of '08).

I really don't remember the first time I heard Ray Charles, but I do remember riding in my grandpa's truck with him when I was a kid. And there among his cassettes of Roy Orbison and Hank Williams was the tape of Ray Charles' "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music." So maybe something about that stuck with me.

But they surely didn't call Ray Charles "genius" for nothing. The guy just oozed talent and soul.
And this is one of those songs that just kills me in a fantastic way. The orchestra accompaniment makes this so damn dramatic. And then there's his voice--arguably one of the greatest blues and soul singers ever.

Track 23: "Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town" by Pearl Jam

I seem to recognize your face...

Trips home to Columbia seem to bring about a sense of nostalgia on the ol' blog here, and this past weekend was no different.

The wedding of a best friend's older sister brought back a flood of familiar faces I haven't seen since I was a teenager. I've known Patrick Hill for as long as I can remember. Through church, middle school and high school--and to this day--I have no recollections of not knowing him and his family. His sister, Shelley, is three years older than us (the same age as my brother, Matt), so between church and high school friends we all pretty much grew up around the same people.

Between the collective mind's eye of church people and the high school folks, I was a perpetual 14 year old...the younger brother. Always. And seeing their first impressions of me as a 'grown up' (I use this term loosely as I am sure I don't meet the dictionary definition of "Grown Up"), was a cool experience to live through.

Sincerely, there isn't much better in life than catching up with friends. And I got to spend some quality time with some of my favorite people this weekend! It's sad that it's starting to happen more and more these days at funerals. But it's hard to beat an extremely fun wedding. Plus, I've always really enjoyed getting drunk in a suit.

And there may be no better nostalgic song for me than this Pearl Jam tune. I have very distinct memories of the first times and places I heard each of Pearl Jam's first three albums and this band was a HUGE part of the soundtrack to my formative high school years.

This song, in particular, has always stuck with me.

Track 23 is a wedding gift (it's literally about all I can afford right now)to Kenley Young and his beautiful new bride, Shelley Hill. The good fortunes of your life together began last night, by being able to pack a room with such a great group of people.

Track 22: "The Power of Love" by Huey Lewis and the News

It's strong and it's sudden and it's cruel sometimes,
but it might just save your life.
That's the power of love.

Going to keep this installment short and sweet. And though Track 22 on my Ultimate Playlist may be a lark, it also carries some meaning.

"Back to the Future" will always be one of my favorite movies. And part of me wants to live out the scene where George McFly socks Biff in the parking lot of the Enchantment Under the Sea dance and wins the affections of Lorraine.

Maybe being a geeky weakling myself, I identify with putting a meat-head bully on his pants, and then uttering the classic line "Hey you, get your damn hands off her." Beautiful.

Not only does "Power of Love" play a prominent role in the film, but I more or less grew up hearing Huey Lewis and the News. (what a fantastic name for a backing band.) (And as an additional side note, Patrick Bateman's dissection of the albums "Fore" and "Sports" in "American Psycho" is brilliant). But it's a great song, and I dare you not to listen to it and just feel alive inside!

Track 22 also presents a challenge to you...yes, you, Blog Reader! The next time you are at a bar with a jukebox, find and play "Power of Love" and then just sit back and revel in the glory you just created with 50 cents.

If, by some far-off chance, you don't see a noticeable effect the song has on the bar patrons--especially towards the end when Huey asks "Feel the Power?"--do the following:

1. Leave that bar immediately and vow never to return, because clearly the place harbors the types of individuals you shouldn't associate with.

2. Let me know and I will gladly refund your 50 cents.

It's a curious thing, but trust me, it works every time.

Feel the Power? That's "The Power of Love."